Brief case



Jam 10, 1928. 1,655,822

J. ROTH BRIEF CASE Filed Jan. 5. 1927 ATTORNEY Patented .Jan. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES JACOB ROTH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BRIEF CASE.

I Application filed January 5, 1927.

The present invention relates to what are co)nmonl i called brief cases or portfolios. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and durable constr ction wherein the carrying handle may be made integral with the extended flaps or straps which are secured to the under side of the top of the case. Heretofore, it been common to provide a metal ring or loop at each end of the handle, which engaged with a similar metal loop attachel to each of the straps or bands which were secured tothe under side of the top of the brief case. This construction has proven weal: because the strain on the leather where it engaged the rings, caused the leather to break or crack, so that the handle required replacing before the remainder of the brief case was worn out. In addition, the construction was, un necessarily costly. The object of the present invention is to make the handle and straps which secure it to the top of the case continuous, and preferably of one piece of leather to simplify the construction, reduce the cost thereof, and at the same time provide a handle which will be more durable. It is also the object of the invention to incorporate with such a handle a stiffening member, such as a metal strap to stiffen the top of the case and prevent the strain of the handle from distorting it, although thisstrap per se, is not new, but only in the combination herein described. Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

In the drawing forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a face view of a brief case embodyingmy'invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof'with a por tion of the case broken away to show the interior Figure 8 is an inverted plan view of the int or of the top flap of the case with one of the members broken away,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line s;% of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the handlo members ready for assembly I have shown my invention applied to a brief case or portfolio in which embodiment my invention is most advantageous, although it will be apparent that the inven" tion may be applied to hand bags and other Serial No. 159,029.

down the f ontthereof and to be closed bv a suitable clasp or lock 4 attached partly to the front of the brief case and partly to the end of the flap. I have also shown the usual straps for surrounding the brief case at opposite ends, although the straps may be used or not, as desired.

The present handle is composed of a strip of material 6 which is preferably leather and of such length as to extend a considerable portion of the length of the brief case, and preferably the full length thereof. The central portion of this strip is folded or curved crosswise, so that the edges are brought together and secured by stitches 7 "to, form a rounded portion or member 8 which forms the handle proper. The re mainder of this strip remains flat and projects considerable distance from each side ofthe handle member, as shown at S). These fiat extensions or strips are passed through the slots 10 which are arranged in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides of the middle of the flap member 2. The members 9 extend downwardly through the slots 10 to bring them to the inner or under side of the case flap 2 and then extend outwardly in opposite directions to lie immediately under the flap and against its inner surface.

The stiffening member which serves to prevent the upward pull of the handle from drawing the flap inwardly consists of a metal strip 11 which extends along the flap 2 preferably substantially its full length. This metal band extends through slots which are cut in the handle member, as shown at 12, so that the metal'strip lies between the extensions 9 of the handle member and the inner surface of the flap. as shown more in detail in Figures 5 and 6. Rivets 13 and 14- are ei'nployed to secure the parts together and these pass through registering apertures in the extensions 9, the metal strip 11 and the wall of the flap 2. As shown in the draw ing, I prefer to arrange one of these rivets 13 adjacent the point where the handle connects with the flap and another one 14 near the end of the flap, this construction being repeated at the oppos side of the flap.

Ill)

These rivets rigidly and firmly unite the case is carried by the handle, the upward pull has a tendency to draw the ends of the handle 8 toward each other and therefore to pull in on opposite sides o't the flap, but the stillcning member or band 11 resists this drawing-in action and therefore holds the flap in shape. This band also serves to strengthen the construction at the points where the handle extensions 9 are secured to the flap. lhe method of. assembly is very simple. In addition to the rivets 13, 14 I prefer to unite the extensions 9 to the flap on opposite sides of the metal band 11 by rows of stitches 16 so that the metal band not permitted to separate from the flap, nor are the extensions themselves permitted to separate. This completes the finish and improves the appearance of the article. However, the construction does not depend on the stitching for strength although the stitches do strengthen the construction as a Whole.

Having described my invention, what I v claim is and the edges thereof secured to form a handle portion, the remainder of the handle member comprising fiat extension straps eX- tending through the slots in said topfiap, said extension straps extending along the inner side or said top flap, said extension straps having slots therein, a'stili'ening member extending through the slots in said c3:- tension straps and extending a substantial portion of the width of said top flap, and means tor uniting said extension straps, the stiffening member, and top flap together.

2. Aln'ictt case or other-carrying device having a top liap provided withspaced slots, a handle member comprising a continuous strip having an intermediate portion folded and the edges thereof secured to form a handle portion, the remainder of the handle member comprisingextension straps passing through the slots in said top flap and extending in opposite directions against the inner side of said top flap, said extension straps having slots, a stitlening member tending through the slots in said extension straps and being CO-CXtGIlSiVG with a sub stantial portion of thewidth of'said top flap, portions of said sti'llening member lying between said extension straps and the top tiap, securing means passing through said extension straps, stiffening member, and top [lap to unite them together, and stitches sccuring said extension straps and top flap to gether on opposite sides of said stiffening member.

Signed in the city, county and State of New York, this 23rd day ofDecember, 1926 JACOB Born. 

